Top International and Panamanian Artists Set To Perform:Randy Weston African GroupDavid Sanchez GroupKurt Rosenwinkel Group featuring Mark TurnerUniversity Panama Big Band Led by Vitin Paz with Maurico Smith Jr and Panamanian guest vocalist Patricia Vlieg , Carlos Garnett Quartet, Santi Debriano and the Sounds of Ashé From the U of Massachusetts Dartmouth, New England Conservatory Ensemble, Mauricio Smith’s Tribute Band and Folk Panamanian Musicians

“The reawakening of a country’s soul is a splendid thing to witness, especially when it’s a place as beautiful and intriguing as Panama.” John Murph, JazzTimes

"Panama, for one weekend, the hub of jazz universe.” Larry Katz, Boston Herald

“…thousands of Panamanians poured into the capitol’s historic Old City over the weekend to celebrate an art form with deep roots here: jazz.” Howard Reich, Chicago Tribune

Festival founder and artistic director Danilo Pérez is proud to announce the third annual Panama Jazz Festival, scheduled for January 19 -21, 2006. Having grown in stature each year, the 2006 three day event will feature the Randy Weston African Group, the David Sanchez Group, the Kurt Rosenwinkel Group featuring Mark Turner, the New England Conservatory Ensemble, the University Panama Big Band, led by Vitin Paz with special guests, Santi Debriano and the Sounds of Ashé From the University of Massachusetts, the Carlos Garnett Quartet, the New England Conservatory Ensemble, Mauricio Smith’s Tribute Band, Folk Panamanian Musicians among other national and international musicians.

The Pérez Foundation is organizing the Festival along with the sponsorship of Ricardo Pérez, SA (Toyota Distributor of Panama) and the continuous support of Panama City’s Mayor Juan Carlos Navarro. In addition to ticketed concerts held at the Anayansi Theater of the Atlantic Pacific Convention Center, there will be a free concert at the Cathedral Plaza, in el Casco Antiguo and jam sessions led by local jazz players and international musicians. The Pérez Foundation and the PJF will also join forces with the New England Conservatory of Music, (Boston, MA) to provide music workshops for students at the Belle Arts Department of the University of Panama. “One of the main reasons for doing this festival is to develop the musical education of our country and the Perez Foundation will provide different ways to do so,” says Pérez.

Pérez’s manager, Robin Tomchin, who is also the International Coordinator of the Panama Jazz Festival, added, “This festival has been a dream of ours, since Danilo and I began working together over twelve years ago. The event is wonderfully received by the people of Panama, who openly embrace the music and the artists—even if they are unfamiliar with them. It’s also especially gratifying to have the support of the entire country, from the office of the President, to the mayor of Panama City to the newspapers and television. We hope to continue to grow the festival over time.”

If the response to the second annual Panama Jazz Festival is any indication, Danilo Pérez is beginning to see his dream realized. For years, Danilo has focused on broadening the country's horizons by introducing the world to the rich cultural and musical legacy of his homeland. “(Danilo Pérez) presented his homeland with a spectacular gift,” noted Larry Blumenfeld, in Jazziz. “Pérez is determined to bring the world’s greatest jazz musicians to Panama, as much as he is advocating for talented Panamanian musicians to be heard on a global basis,” said Aaron Cohen in Downbeat. Writing in the Chicago Tribune, Howard Reich noted, “a great deal of what (Pérez plays) has been dedicated to extolling Panamanian<